Ferdinand Alexander Porsche, 76, who designed Porsche's classic 911 sports car and cemented his grandfather's name into the modern psyche, died Thursday in Salzburg, Austria.
Mr. Porsche, known as F.A. to his colleagues, was head of the Porsche design studio in the early 1960s when the company developed the 911 model that remains its brand-defining product. The car, now in its seventh version, remains recognizably the same vehicle, with its sloping roofline; long, low hood; and prominent headlights.
"The creator of the Porsche 911 has founded a culture of design in our company that distinguishes our sports cars even today," Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller said.